Mai Resignation Stirs Rumors as PM Cites Injury and Surgery

Within the Briceno administration, perhaps the most interesting event this week was the resignation of Jose Abelardo Mai as the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise.  Prior to his resignation, on Friday, rumors began floating that Mai was being watched by the US authorities; that the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires met with PM Briceno on Friday where Mai’s name came up, and that Mai may have questionable associations in the north.  The rumor mill worked overtime this weekend, and by Monday evening, the news of Mai’s resignation came.  Many, if not all those in tuned, believed that his resignation was linked to these reports.  Today, however, PM Briceno says the explanation is as simple as Mai falling off his horse and now in need of surgery.  Since the news broke, many have found it laughable, but the PM says it’s no joke.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Well I do believe he has a good future if that’s what he wants. Maybe many of you, maybe you all are not aware, but minister Mai has a farm and one time he came to cabinet and saying that he was riding his horse and he fell off over a year ago and you know, many of us bantering, teasing him, not realizing that he was seriously hurt, both his lower back and his shoulder and I now he was telling us that he will have to be having surgery probably going to Guatemala for surgery. So he felt it was best to take a leave of absence whilst he takes that operation and go through the recovery process. With your back it’s a long process. So he would better serve the cabinet or the government by taking time off to be able to take care of is health issues. I want to put on record my great appreciation, all of us, the great appreciation for Minister Mai for the tremendous work that he did in the Ministry of Agriculture. I firmly believe that he is the best Minister of Agriculture we have had at least since 1981. What he has done was tremendous work and revitalized agriculture and getting more and more people excited about investing in agriculture and it’s something that we will never forget.”

Reporter:  Does he still have your support as a candidate in Orange Walk South ? 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Of course. Minister Mai and I we remain very close friends. We’ve been friends for a very long time. His parents live one block away from my house and we still keep in touch and we will be continue working and in Orange Walk district district we work together and also in the Northern caucus he’s still the deputy party leader for the North. So if he wants to continue with politics, of course, I will support him. He’s been an excellent area representative. He has been elected since 2012 and continuously getting larger and larger margins so it shows and it speaks volumes about his work.”